Noc
The grating clang of metal on metal filled the air, punctuated by the chest-rattling roars of beasts and monsters. All of it was a din as I fought against Darrien, parrying swipe after swipe of his devastating scythe. I’d always pegged him for a warrior, but his skill was startling. So used to seeing him hide behind his bow, I hadn’t been prepared for the swift arcs of his attacks, the whirl of his feet as they cleverly darted across the body-strewn earth. We moved with the shadows, bleeding in and out of existence as we tried in vain to outmaneuver one another. We’d each landed a few blows—a cut across his cheek, the gash in my arm, a smattering of bruises and welts—but nothing fatal. And every time I tried to send a droplet of blood racing toward one of his open wounds so I could control him, he’d deftly escape it. And then his skin would heal, just like mine, and we’d be back to hacking at each other all over again.
Rearing back, he brought his scythe swinging through the air. I thrust my blade forward, turning the broadside toward him, and effectively halted his attack. Our weapons scraped together, and I snarled.
He answered with a growl of his own. “I will kill you, Noc.”
Pushing all my weight into my arms, I shoved him off and sent him tumbling back. “All this because Talmage made me guild master? You went as far as to align yourself with Varek? Yazmin?” Fury burned through my veins. His arrogance had split my home in two. I’d murdered my own brethren because of him. Because of his actions. All for a title he thought he deserved.
“You’ll never understand.” He regained his footing and charged.
Shadows ensconced my feet, and I leapt away. “No, I won’t.”
Ocnolog’s wild attacks had gone in our favor. While we’d certainly lost soldiers to his flames, Varek—or rather Yazmin, now that she’d murdered him—had lost more. And with Leena’s beasts reinvigorating our forces, we’d begun to push the soldiers back toward the castle. Not to mention, the sudden appearance of Lola, Calem, and a lithe, mercury-colored beast I didn’t recognize at the back of Varek’s army had sent his men into a state of chaos. I could even feel Kost’s presence through the shadows, and just knowing that my brothers were still alive and fighting gave me strength.
Racing toward Darrien, I aimed my sword right at his heart. He blocked the move, but the force of my attack sent him flying to his back. His scythe skittered to the side, and he squirmed in the mud to try to reach it.
I pressed my boot to his chest, holding him in place. “It’s over, Darrien.”
Fear flashed through his amber eyes.
As I raised my sword high, preparing to drive it clean through his sternum, a heartbreaking roar shattered the heavens and silenced our world. My gaze snapped to the sky, where I spotted a body free falling to the earth. A woman doused in a rosewood glow. Above her, a streaking bullet of black that could only be Onyx. And right on his tail, Ocnolog.
Darrien didn’t hesitate to take advantage of my shock. With a swift kick, he swept my legs out from under me and I crashed to the ground. I didn’t care. Couldn’t focus. All I could see was Leena, barreling toward the earth like a falling star. My heart thundered in my ears.
Darrien stabbed me through the shoulder with a blade and pinned me to the ground, bringing my attention back to him. Writhing beneath his weight on my back, I screamed. Not because of the lancing pain surging through my arm, but because I couldn’t see her. Couldn’t get to her. I had no idea if she was still alive. And even if she was, Ocnolog was right there. He’d end her before I could ever escape Darrien’s clutches.
“She was always your weakness.” He smirked and twisted the blade. Red-hot fire licked through my muscles. I’d lost so much blood throughout the battle that it was getting harder and harder to focus. Dark splotches filled my vision, and even though blood pooled beneath my arm, I couldn’t force it to take shape. I hadn’t given my body a moment to breathe, to heal. I didn’t have time.
I felt a shift in the shadows before I saw him. Kost. He appeared behind Darrien, wild fury in his burning green eyes. Forming a slender rapier out of the shadows, he struck hard and fast, driving the tip right through the base of Darrien’s neck. Hot blood spurted over me, and Darrien’s eyes bulged. Wild and frantic, his hands flailed about the protruding blade. Then, they went limp as his face slackened. His legs gave out and he slumped to the ground.
“That’s for Gaige.” Ice edged Kost’s parting words, and he shoved Darrien’s lifeless body to the side. With the flick of his wrist, Kost commanded his weapon to dissipate, and then hauled me to my feet.
“Thanks,” I said.
He opened his mouth to answer, but a low, demanding command tainted with dark power rumbled through the air.
“Come to me. Leave your Charmers behind. They do not deserve your devotion.”
Ocnolog. All around us, the beasts stopped their attack. Slowly, as if being pulled by strings, they turned in the direction of the dragon and stalked toward him. Charmers called out to their creatures, their woeful cries pulling at my heart. Not a single beast reacted. They simply continued their march toward the grounded beast.
Toward Onyx and…
“Leena.” I spied her standing before Ocnolog, armor cast to the side and body shaking. She was alive. Alive and alone.
Adrenaline surged through me, and the bone-deep fatigue I felt disappeared. I needed to get to her—now. Calling on my shadows, I bolted across the battlefield, focusing only on her. Her lips were moving but I couldn’t quite make out what she was saying. Her beasts had come to her side, thankfully, but even with them beside her, they didn’t stand a chance against Ocnolog.
Get out of there! Why aren’t you running? I couldn’t seem to move fast enough. I’d broken free of the forces and was sprinting at full speed in her direction, but there was still so much space between us. Too much. She’d stopped speaking, and Ocnolog had brought his snout inches from her face. Atop his head, Yazmin was laughing.
Any minute now, he’d burn her alive.
Any minute now, the love of my life would be gone forever. Even if I went against her wishes and raised her, I wouldn’t be able to do so if there wasn’t a body to begin with. If she was nothing but ash.
For a moment, she seemed startled. Then puzzled. And then a calm, serene look of utter certainty dominated her features. She stared at Ocnolog with so much understanding, as if she’d been let in on some private secret, and she reached for the blade strapped to her thigh.
What are you doing? My lungs burned. Every muscle screamed at me both to stop and to keep racing toward her. To save her. Something was wrong. Something was going to happen. I knew it like I knew the shadows. They whispered of death and streaked toward the source. Toward her.
She raised the blade high, and my world narrowed to that damn knife gleaming in the dusty, orange sun.
“Leena!” I bellowed her name with everything I had.
Pausing, she craned her neck toward me. A brilliant smile claimed her lips at the same time tears rushed down her cheeks. She mouthed one phrase. One disastrous phrase.
I love you.
And then she drove the blade deep into her heart.
The sickening sound of metal piercing flesh would play on repeat in my mind for the rest of my life. In that moment, I wished we’d said goodbye. I wanted that to be the last thing I heard from her lips. Because goodbye implied there might be a chance for a hello once again. But now… She crumbled to the ground as blood bubbled out over her hands. I got to her within seconds, but it didn’t matter. The deed was already done. Sliding on my knees, I caught her before her head hit the ground and cradled her in my lap. Tears stung my eyes as I discarded my helm. Why? Why had she done this? I pulled her against me, soft sobs racking my chest.
Her smile was weak. “I had to do it.”
“Leena.” It was all I could say. All I could do. Her hazel eyes were full and glassy, but her stare was faraway. This was it. No amount of chest compressions or breathing air into her lungs could save her from this fate. Not like before. Her chest gave a heavy shudder, and her breath rattled. Blood trickled from her lips. And I knew in my core that I wouldn’t raise her. Not after what happened with Gaige. I’d promised to honor her wishes, and as much as it pained me to let her go…I did. I simply watched as the light left her eyes and her body stilled. Gripping her hands, I pressed featherlight kisses to her fingers.
All around me, her beasts howled. Their heartbreaking cries dragged on forever as they tilted their heads to the heavens and let their emotions free. Wet fur lined the undersides of their eyes, and they gathered around us. Lying down, they curled their bodies up against her lifeless form.
In front of us, Ocnolog jolted in place as his nostrils flared wide.
Even if he’d threatened to unleash fire our direction, I wouldn’t have moved. My throat ached and my whole body shook. I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. Nothing mattered anymore. I didn’t care about the battle, about the war. I didn’t care who ruled over Lendria. The only thing I ever cared about was gone.
A dark chuckle pulled me from my reverie. “I told her she couldn’t win.”
I jerked my head up, meeting Yazmin’s tight stare. My bones quaked. I didn’t care about the country anymore, but I did care about vengeance. About retribution. Yazmin would pay for the pain she’d caused.
Summoning blood from the still-closing wound in my shoulder, I formed a pointed spear and let it hover by my side. Aimed it directly at her center. “You will pay for what you’ve done.”
She only smirked. “I don’t think so.”
Ocnolog reared back and opened his maw. Fire and brimstone and death brewed beyond his fangs, and I glared at it head on. I would burn away with my love. But not before I rid the world of Yazmin.
Just as I was about send the spear careening toward her, something strange happened. A beautiful sparkling light the size of a gem lifted out of Leena’s body, right from the fatal wound in her chest. It hung low over her, then drifted toward Ocnolog’s open maw. He considered it for a long moment before allowing it to travel through his mouth. All at once, the fire in his throat died. And that glittering, stunning light pulsed through his body, halting just over his own heart. And then it ruptured into a thousand tiny particles that rushed out over the clearing.
Abruptly, the smoke disappeared.
The fires that were eating through the grass were extinguished.
And Yazmin screamed.
An uncontrollable tremor overtook her body, and she lost her grip on his horns. She fell to the ground in a writhing heap, her hands wildly grabbing at her chest. Fresh blood bloomed between her fingers, and her face went parchment-pale.
“No!” she screamed, panicked eyes raking over the lawns until her gaze landed on Leena. “You. You did this.” Trembling, she attempted to clamber to her knees, but her body gave out and she screeched wordlessly in anger. Clawing at the earth, she dragged herself forward, leaving behind a trail of smeared blood.
“You…” Her garbled accusation ended in a wet cough. Blood flecks shot from her lips, and she collapsed. She craned her neck upward, glaring at my anam-cara with nothing but sheer hatred, and reached a shaking hand toward her. It hovered weakly above the ground until her chest gave one last pitiful heave, and she went completely still.
A relieved sigh scraped through the air, and Ocnolog settled onto his haunches. Tipping his head to the blazing sun, he closed his eyes.
In my lap, Leena stirred. For a moment, I didn’t breathe. Didn’t look. I couldn’t bring myself to hope that somehow she’d survived this. Not when I’d watched the very life leave her eyes. When I heard a startled gasp, I tilted my chin down. With a slight smile pulling at her lips, Leena looked up at me.
“Hey.”
A choked sob escaped my chest. “Hey? That’s all you have to say to me right now?”
Nuzzling her head against my collarbone, she chuckled. “It’s done.” She pulled me down to her and kissed me. Slowly at first, as if to reassure me that she was there, and then deeply and with so much passion that I forgot to breathe. She was alive. Somehow, despite everything that had happened, she’d made it. She’d won.
She’d saved us all.
Breaking our kiss, Leena pressed her forehead to mine before reaching out to her beasts. They’d leapt to their feet in excitement and were clambering around us, heads knocking into our sides and happy yowls slipping from their throats. She stroked their hides and laughed—the sound so pure and light and full of love that my tears threatened to start up again.
Once she’d calmed them, she turned back to me. “There’s something I have to take care of.” Standing tall, she regarded Ocnolog with a warm, motherly smile.
“You ready to go home?”
He peeled open his eyes, looking from her to the beasts at her back. “Yes.”
Leena thrust both hands outward, and a flood of power unlike any she’d ever demonstrated before rushed from her center. Rosewood light raced across the open plains, and the vines and flowers lining her skin glowed like the stars. And for the first time in history, the beast realm door appeared right before our very eyes.
Suspended in the sky, the double doors were larger than any mountain and carved out of white oak. Platinum vines, flowers, and leaves adorned the wood in a magnificent pattern similar to the markings on Leena’s skin. The gleaming handles shook as she worked to pull them open. A wondrous, rich groan coursed throughout the land, and then the beast realm was there. The rolling, endless hills of lush grass. The tall, snowcapped mountains and effortlessly blue sky. The doors stood open wide, and Leena beamed up at the sight.
Ocnolog spread his wings to take flight, then paused. There, standing at the threshold of the beast realm, was a being unlike any I’d ever seen. It took me a moment to realize I was looking upon a goddess. Celeste. She was magnificent. Ethereal. Her billowing hair flowed around her like a halo, and the vines and flowers racing across her skin changed color with every shift of her body. She cast her arms wide and, with a tender smile, beckoned to her beast.
A low, emotional groan rumbled from Ocnolog’s throat, and he launched into the air. He passed through the realm and landed before Celeste, who threw her arms around him and cried. For a long moment, neither of them moved. Only after an eternity passed did Celeste turn her attention to Leena.
“Thank you.” Her melodious voice rang out loud and clear for all to hear.
Leena wiped tears from her cheeks and nodded. “He’s all yours.”
And with that, the goddess and the dragon turned their backs on our world. Groaning to a close, the doors sealed tight and then disappeared from the sky, but not before Celeste’s laugh and Ocnolog’s happy sigh coursed over the land.
Leena smiled up at the space where they used to be, her grin only faltering when her gaze landed upon Yazmin’s body. Her shoulders drooped, and she carefully moved to the former Crown’s side.
“She was right in a way, you know.” Leena’s words were somber. “But she let her pain and her rage consume her. She went down a dark path in the name of protecting her people. I won’t let that happen to me.”
“I know you won’t.” I moved to her side and laced my fingers with hers. “What happened with her and Ocnolog?”
“I’ll explain later. For now,” she tipped her head toward Wilheim’s castle, “let’s put an end to this war.”
And together with everyone’s beasts at our backs, we walked back to the battlefield to sort out the mess Varek and Yazmin had started.